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When’s the last time you were back in China? That used to be the case, but increasingly less so. Especially after Trump’s trade war. Chinese people I know proud

When’s the last time you were back in China? That used to be the case, but increasingly less so. Especially after Trump’s trade war. Chinese people I know proudly buy Huawei and Nio cars. Even American products that Chinese people love like iPhones and Tesla are produced in China now… Also 1. I don’t think people generally say that. 2. CDC made a huge mess of the pandemic (eg not stocking enough PPE). USPS is in big financial trouble. 3. This is huge topic but I’m inclined to say US messes up as often as it succeeds. Afghanistan will have 22 million people starving this year because of US sanctions. They promote democracy, but not human rights. But overall I think you’re right to say the US government is one of the “more” efficient ones.

vkou 4y ago
USPS is in big financial trouble because half the government is actively trying to kill it, by not allowing it to raise prices.
- jamie_ca 4y ago
  Not to mention a level pension funding obligations that no other government agency has to suffer through.
  - seibelj 4y ago
    I always find that argument hilarious because the USPS was required to actually have conservative, healthy funding for their pensions - something no other state or federal agency does! And this is supposedly a bad thing! Just look at Chicago for an example of unfunded pension liabilities - a ticking time bomb.
- nouveaux 4y ago
  "USPS being in big financial trouble" should be considered a crazy idea. To me, it's like saying the "Senate" is in big financial trouble or the Federal Reserve is in big financial trouble. USPS should be a federal entity. They should be managed just like the State department. What the USPS accomplishes is amazing. For a few dollars, you can send anyone a letter or a package to anywhere in the United States. The amount of productivity and the improved standard of living they provide incredible.
BobbyJo 4y ago
> They promote democracy, but not human rights. A point of contention: Democracy is the surest way to safeguard human right long term in a nation. Historically speaking, there isn't even a second place when it comes to other forms of rule operating effectively on the necessary timescales. Promoting democracy is promoting human rights the same way promoting exercise is promoting health and well-being.
- sudosysgen 4y ago
  Democracy is far from the surest way to safeguard human rights. It's just a game of definitions that whenever a democracy commits atrocities, it retroactively stops being a democracy, even when the people are on board with it.
  - BobbyJo 4y ago
    Or maybe they do actually stop being democracies before the bad stuff happens? Care to share an example? Literally all of the countries that have had continuous constitutions + liberal human rights (that is a long running government that hasn't violated its citizens rights) are democracies right now.
    - sudosysgen 4y ago
      Right, that's exactly what I'm talking about. You're defining it as "a long-running government that hasn't violated its citizens rights". By this definition, you could exclude the United States as one of its minorities wasn't able to vote until recently. You're begging the question.
      - BobbyJo 4y ago
        That was a bad definition because I was painting with broad strokes an hard lines. Maybe this is a better way to phrase my statement: The countries that treat their constituents best are all democracies. Additionally, they tend to promote or retain rights better over time. The US, and most of Europe are great examples. It's not perfect correlation, likewise people drop dead running marathons sometimes, but the correlation between democracy and human well-being is very strong.

vkou 4y ago

USPS is in big financial trouble because half the government is actively trying to kill it, by not allowing it to raise prices.

jamie_ca 4y ago
Not to mention a level pension funding obligations that no other government agency has to suffer through.
- seibelj 4y ago
  I always find that argument hilarious because the USPS was required to actually have conservative, healthy funding for their pensions - something no other state or federal agency does! And this is supposedly a bad thing! Just look at Chicago for an example of unfunded pension liabilities - a ticking time bomb.
nouveaux 4y ago
"USPS being in big financial trouble" should be considered a crazy idea. To me, it's like saying the "Senate" is in big financial trouble or the Federal Reserve is in big financial trouble. USPS should be a federal entity. They should be managed just like the State department. What the USPS accomplishes is amazing. For a few dollars, you can send anyone a letter or a package to anywhere in the United States. The amount of productivity and the improved standard of living they provide incredible.

BobbyJo 4y ago

> They promote democracy, but not human rights. A point of contention: Democracy is the surest way to safeguard human right long term in a nation. Historically speaking, there isn't even a second place when it comes to other forms of rule operating effectively on the necessary timescales. Promoting democracy is promoting human rights the same way promoting exercise is promoting health and well-being.

sudosysgen 4y ago
Democracy is far from the surest way to safeguard human rights. It's just a game of definitions that whenever a democracy commits atrocities, it retroactively stops being a democracy, even when the people are on board with it.
- BobbyJo 4y ago
  Or maybe they do actually stop being democracies before the bad stuff happens? Care to share an example? Literally all of the countries that have had continuous constitutions + liberal human rights (that is a long running government that hasn't violated its citizens rights) are democracies right now.
  - sudosysgen 4y ago
    Right, that's exactly what I'm talking about. You're defining it as "a long-running government that hasn't violated its citizens rights". By this definition, you could exclude the United States as one of its minorities wasn't able to vote until recently. You're begging the question.
    - BobbyJo 4y ago
      That was a bad definition because I was painting with broad strokes an hard lines. Maybe this is a better way to phrase my statement: The countries that treat their constituents best are all democracies. Additionally, they tend to promote or retain rights better over time. The US, and most of Europe are great examples. It's not perfect correlation, likewise people drop dead running marathons sometimes, but the correlation between democracy and human well-being is very strong.